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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Frederick Jonathan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <UGHA123@LIVE.COM>
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:56:14 +1000
Subject: WESTERN UNION®-OUTSTANDING PAYMENT WITH U (US$1.5M)

*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro*

Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Attention:

There is an issue with the Western Union Money Transfer in the amount of ($1.5m) One Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars directed in cash credited to fileKTU/9023118308, at the owner of this email address. The International Monetary Funds contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.

They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a name; We are unable to complete the transfer as directed to an email address, So we require some more information in order to complete this transfer;
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
DIRECT PHONE NUMBER:
FAX NUMBER IF ANY:
OCCUPATION:

In order to resolve this issue, please email Western Union Solicitors Fund Verification Department: UGHA123@LIVE.COM AS soon as this information is received, and you have complied with the requirements of payment of the western union charges of $135.00, we will make the transfer to your designated bank account or at the counter directly from The Western Union Transferring Bank.Please contact the relevant department via e-mail (UGHA123@LIVE.COM) and confirm the above information to them, also ask them to direct you on how you will send the transfer charge of $135.00 to enable the transfer immediately.
Here is our website www.westernunion.com Once again, remember to send us the required information that will enable us transfer the $1.5m, in your name immediately,

THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WILL TRANSFER YOUR FUND TO YOUR DESIGNATED ACCOUNT AS SOON AS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION IS CONFIRMED AND THE PAYMENT OF $135.00 WESTERN UNION CHARGES.
Sincerely,


Mr. Frederick Jonathan
Foreign Operation Manager
Western Union Money Transfer
Send Money Worldwide


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